Assessment of Quality of Life After Ventilation Tube Insertion Using Otitis Media 6-Item (OM-6) Questionnaire

Aims and Objectives: To assess the impact of Ventilation tube insertion on the quality of life of children with otitis media with effusion using OM-6 questionnaire. Materials and methods: The present prospective study was conducted in the Department of ENT, SMGS Hospital on 65 children suffering from Otitis Media with Effusion-OME (diagnosed by otoscopy and tympanometry after 3-month follow-up) over a period of 1 year from December 2020 to December 2021. Caregivers of all 65 children were subjected to Otitis Media 6-Item (OM-6) questionnaire at the time of admission (preoperative). All 65 children were subjected to ventilation tube insertion (Shephard Grommet) under general anaesthesia. Post-operatively at 6 weeks of ventilation tube insertion, caregivers were again asked to fill OM-6 questionnaire. Results: The mean pre-operative overall OM6 score was 4.59 ± 1.02 and mean postoperative overall OM6 score was 2.22 ± 0.83, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Out of the six domains of OM6 questionnaire, the highest mean preoperative-postoperative difference was seen in Caregiver Concern (2.76), followed by Physical suffering (2.55). The least mean preoperative-postoperative difference was seen in Speech impairment (0.88). Conclusion: According to our study, there is statistically significant improvement in quality of life in children with OME, after insertion of ventilation tube.